IRELAND WOLFHOUNDS 30 SCOTLAND BRAVEHEARTS 16
CRAIG BEST, Garda, Westmanstown, Saturday

THE Wolfhounds pulled off a notable double, adding to their recent win in Edinburgh with an emphatic success over 16-man Scotland in Dublin.

Jack Wise crossed for coach Sean Cody’s side in the fifth minute, Conor Colman landing the conversion, and although the Bravehearts replied through Jack Petre (George Shannon adding the extras) the hosts went in at the break 16-6 up, with the help of tries by Johnny Campbell and Julian Power.

Ireland could have been twelve points to the good if one of Colman’s shots at goal hadn’t bounced back off an upright.

Scotland hit back on the restart with touchdowns for Roseruatabua Tawanayavualala and Pedro Canakaivata, Shannon improving one effort after seeing, like Colman, an attempt rebounding off the woodwork.

In between, however, Wise notched his second try, with Colman adding his third goal.

At only 22-16 adrift, though, the visitors were very much on course to exact retribution for the reverse in Scotland, but the Ireland eased home with late tries by Liam Costello and Colman, who was unable to improve either score. 

Cody said: “I’m very proud of the lads. They had to dig deep when Scotland got it back to 22-16. We were deserved winners but were made to work hard through our own mistakes.”

Ireland had recovered from 18-6 down at half-time in the Edinburgh opener, going 38-18 up before the Scots rallied to 38-30.

WOLFHOUNDS: Julian Power, James Buckeridge, Cam Carruthers, Liam Costello, Jack Wise, Tyler Cotterill, Eoin Ratchford, Johnny Campbell, Conor Colman, Graeme O’Reilly, Jo McConnell, Cameron Brill, Oisín Carroll. Subs: Seán Mahon, Morisi McGoon, Dara Lowndes, Kyle Barrett

BRAVEHEARTS: Roseruatabua Tawanayavualala, Declan Smith, Jamie Roberts, Onur Anderson, Pedro Canakaivata, George Shannon, Jack Petre, Terry Logan, Charlie Price, Lee Cairney, Ethan Deakin, Jonny Gray, Ben Morris. Subs: Sam Fellows, Josh Rennie, Barry McGuffog

Referee: Eamonn Whelan